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Japanese death poems: The final flicker of Prince Ōtsu (663-686) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prince Ōtsu (663-686) knew his fate after being condemned to death. Hence, his death poem survives the passages of time, unlike others before him. Ōtsu knew that pain awaited and one can only imagine his inner-feelings. Deeming himself innocent…

Another ethnic massacre in Mali and political tensions Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Political tensions, ethnic massacres, Islamist terrorism, poverty, and other forces are putting enormous strains on Mali. Thus many people demonstrated in the capital against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Mali is reeling from ethnic and religious extremism. Hence, like…

The UK reaches 40,000 official Coronavirus death: 48,000 on death certificates Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus official death toll is now 40,261 in the United Kingdom (UK). However, this shockingly high figure is still underestimated. After all, up until May 22, it is known that 48,106 people have Covid-19…

Red Light Area again responsible for 7 out of 12 new Covid-19 cases in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located in Shinjuku but the same district is also responsible for new coronavirus cases (Covid-19). This applies to the sexual entertainment district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku.…

Kenyan police kill 26 in Covid-19 curfew but no international outcry Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Several nations have witnessed police killings over coronavirus (Covid-19) curfews in Africa. This notably applies to Kenya and Nigeria. However, unlike the wealthy nation of America, it appears that these lives don’t matter. Authorities in…

Coronavirus crisis is increasing in Pakistan but the leader opens up tourism Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is increasing in Pakistan with each new day. However, despite the situation, Prime Minister Imran Khan is overly focused on the economic angle. Therefore, the announcement that tourism is to…

Japanese Buddhist art and Kaō: Fourteenth-century art and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese painter Kaō Ninga belongs to the world of the fourteenth century. Hence, this Buddhist holy monk imbued high culture and religion within his art. Therefore, immediately you can feel art, Buddhism, cultural dimensions, and ideas. Artistically…

1.5 million Venezuelan refugees face severe hardship: Exacerbated by covid-19 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The economic situation under President Nicolás Maduro is a disaster for ordinary citizens. In recent years, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country because of extreme poverty, a crumbling health care system, unemployment, and an array…

Japan reports only 37 new Covid-19 cases with most in Tokyo and Fukuoka Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) downward trend continues in Japan with only 37 new cases. Once more, the majority of cases reported are in Tokyo and the prefecture of Fukuoka. With few cases throughout the…

Fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was announced with the deaths of five people in Mbandaka. This comes at a time of new ethnic and religious massacres in eastern areas. Meanwhile,…

Japanese art and Suzuki Reitan (1792-1817): Early death before full bloom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Suzuki Reitan (1792-1817) died before his art could bloom like a beautiful flower. Equally, belonging to the world of rinpa (rimpa) art, his focus was on learning past art and techniques while being schooled. Reitan…

Brazil coronavirus deaths to hit 30,000 in the next day or so Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is abating in most of East Asia and Europe apart from the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom (numbers are coming down). However, in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and several…

Fresh massacre in Burkina Faso after gunmen kill roughly 20 people at a market Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Burkina Faso is blighted by a growing Sunni Islamist insurgency and ethnic tensions. Hence, another massacre at a cattle market highlights the shocking nature of events. It is known…

Japan art and Sakai Oho (1808-1841): The rhythm of art and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sakai Oho (1808-1841) belongs to the world of Japanese rinpa (rimpa) art. Despite living a life based on art, high culture, and the rhythm of Buddhism, it ended too soon. His father was a holy Buddhist priest…

Tokyo to install more coronavirus easing to further kick start the economy Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, announced further easing of restrictions. This relates to the easing from the coronavirus (Covid-19) state of emergency. Despite Japan having a population of over 126 million and a high…

Mozambique army faces new attack by Sunni Islamists: Tanzania is concerned Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The armed forces of Mozambique continue to face fresh attacks by Sunni Islamists in northern parts of this nation. Recently, the government of Tanzania sent military reinforcements to border areas. However, the internal crisis is…

Covid-19 cases in Fukuoka (Kitakyushu) and a small cluster in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency was recently lifted in Japan. Yet new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) are continuing despite the rate being low. Therefore, the focus is on the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka. Before focusing…

Libya and the killing of mainly Asian migrants: Arab slavery continues! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the nation of Libya, the enslavement of black Africans and the mistreatment of Southeast Asians is ongoing. Hence, the recent killing of 30 migrants in this divided nation isn’t a shock. Also, it is…

Contemporary Japanese artist and the delightful Barnard Castle in a fresh light Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi fluctuates from Japanese related themes to landscapes, European art, and various religious angles. In her latest art piece titled the Artistic Light of the Ruins of Barnard Castle, she focuses on…

South Korea in new coronavirus spike: Japan watching events anxiously Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of South Korea announced the biggest increase in new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in seven weeks. Hence, it highlights the problem facing nations because clusters can easily emerge. Despite the international media lauding South Korea,…

Japan art and Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942): A delightful dream world Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) lit up Japanese art during his time on this earth. Of course, lovers of Sekka exist far and wide in modern times based on his adorable art. From a very young age, it was…

China sensing Covid-19 chaos in America and Europe is upping the ante in Hong Kong Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis erupted in China and then spread to all corners of the world. Unlike China, which is emerging from the coronavirus crisis, the same doesn’t apply to America…

Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia to ease border restrictions: Covid-19 success Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The governments of Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia hope to ease border areas by the middle of June. This is based on containing the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis with respective success. Currently deaths per million are…

PM Abe lifts the State of Emergency in Japan to cover the entire nation Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus crisis (Covid-19) state of emergency in Japan is now fully lifted. With infections so low and restrictions already lifted in 42 out of 47 prefectures, then it was expected. In…

Japan art and Sakai Hōitsu: The Persimmon Tree and delightful Crow Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) produced countless stunning art pieces during his lifetime. Interestingly, in the last few decades of his life, he became a Buddhist monk and lived a life of solitude. In the art of two delightful pieces…

Egypt kills 21 Sunni Islamist terrorists in two pre-emptive strikes Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Egypt took preventative measures against Sunni Islamic terrorists who were planning terrorist attacks. This took place in two separate locations in northern Sinai. The Ministry of Interior announced that security forces killed 21…

The covid-19 crisis in America and Brazil is beset by political and social discord Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is witnessing the divisions that exist in America and Brazil. Hence, while the United Kingdom is dealing with the coronavirus crisis abysmally, political and social cohesion remains despite…

The Covid-19 State of Emergency in Tokyo and remaining areas to be lifted Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency in Japan looks set to be lifted throughout the country. This especially applies to Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama. Therefore, the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in…

Japan art and Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913): The richness of rinpa art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913) belongs to the world of Edo and Meiji despite dying in the early Taisho period. Like many artists who spanned a similar timeline he witnessed enormous convulsions. However, despite the modernization of…

Japan to experiment with Covid-19 antibody testing in Miyagi, Osaka, and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan will focus on coronavirus (Covid-19) antibody testing in June. The regions of Miyagi, Osaka, and Tokyo have been chosen because Miyagi prefecture escaped largely unscathed. However, Tokyo witnessed the highest…

Nicaragua deaths from Covid-19: Burials at night and the fog of politics Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Nicaragua is extremely foggy based on the political angle. Thus, despite the death toll seeming low in Nicaragua, the fear persists that this isn’t the real picture. Officially, 17…

Japan state of emergency lifted in Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan lifted the state of emergency on Hyogo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Hence, 42 out of 47 prefectures in Japan are now free from government restraints. In truth, the death tolls in the ultra-modern Asian…

Japan art and Yamamoto Kōitsu (1843-1905): Mysterious Heron and a Crane Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamamoto Kōitsu (Kōichi) was born in the Edo period and died during the revolutionary Meiji era. However, the exact years of his birth and death are not set in stone but reportedly 1843-1905. It is known that he…

Germany to protect health care sector from non-EU takeovers: Covid-19 legacy Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Germany is seeking to protect the health care sector from takeovers from non-European Union nations. This is in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. The announced new policy is aimed at preventing foreign takeovers in…

Indigenous fears of high Covid-19 deaths in border areas of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Fears are increasing in the tri-border area between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru that indigenous communities face a high death toll. This relates to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. At the same time, the…

Japan in recession unsurprisingly given the economic convulsions of Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The economic convulsions of coronavirus (Covid-19) and declining economic activity mean nations face enormous uncertainty. Hence, Japan was already braced for the announced recession, just like other major economies. Of course, 2020 was meant to be…

Japan art and Hishida Shunsō: Faithful cats and nature Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hishida Shunsō (1874-1911) never had nine lives, unlike the saying goes for cats. However, the stunning art of Shunsō means he lives on long after his death. This is based on the stunning art he produced. In the second…